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6
During the year a temporary Assistant Medical Officer
was appointed, to meet the requirements of the Board of
Education with regard to the medical inspection of school
children, and this temporary appointment was succeeded by
the permanent appointment of Dr. Oates as Assistant
Medical Officer, so that it will now be possible to place the
medical inspection of school children on a more organised
and satisfactory footing.
The question of infectious disease occurring amongst
school children requires increased attention, as the direct
and indirect financial loss to the Council, apart from other
considerations, from this cause is very great, and I would
direct their attention to the portion of the report in the
School Section on Scarlet Fever.
The question of laundry accommodation at the Hospital
has received attention during the past year, and investigations
have been made as to the best form of drying accommodation.
I trust this matter will be decided and dealt with
during the ensuing year, as the present accommodation is
quite inadequate.
The question of dealing with Consumption will assume
increased importance shortly, when the Insurance Act comes
into operation, and I have outlined a scheme under that
heading in the section on infectious disease as to the best and
most economical way of dealing with that question in this
district. It is a matter that requires careful consideration
and adjustment if the most effectual result is to be achieved
from any grant made, while the needs and means of every
district vary so much that there is real danger if rural and
urban districts are all to be dealt with on similar lines.
With a rapidly growing district such as this is, also with the
increased attention paid to public health matters, with the
consequent increase of work due to various new Acts and
Regulations, the organisation of the Department has received